An easy way for medical providers to rent out clinic space

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Oakbrook Terrace startup Clineeds says it's a bit like Airbnb—but for medical clinics, not homes. “It's tough for medical providers to rent out their clinic space,” says Chicago neurologist Rishi Garg, who co-founded the company with local dermatologist Sumul Gandhi. “Imagine trying to advertise your surgical suite on Craigslist.”

Clineeds allows doctors to advertise and rent out their clinic space to other medical providers. “A lot of these doctors get full-time leases, so there's a lot of downtime with their space,” Garg says. Meanwhile, many doctors are looking for clinic spaces where they can see patients in a particular area—but on a part-time basis.

“Most patients get their health care within 5 or 6 miles of where they live,” Garg says. “If you look in New York, dermatologists have three different offices in three different parts of the city because they want to capture different parts of that market. . . .The problem is rent is crazy.”

Garg and Gandhi's self-funded startup aims to make that marketplace more efficient by helping doctors find an available clinic space they can use on certain days every week or month without spending the money for a full-time lease. The company launched in August, and it has partnered so far with about 100 clinics nationwide. Listing a clinic facility is free; Clineeds charges a 10 percent service fee to medical providers who rent the space.

"We've done a lot in eight months,” Garg says. ““This is just a steppingstone. We have very big plans for this.”

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Chicago product design company Dezzio LLC says it has created “the world's first functional beach bag.” Features include a concealed mesh at the bottom, which makes it easy to remove any sand that gets inside the bag. There's a cooler pocket with a bottle opener, an external towel holder, a built-in case for sunglasses, a key holder and a separate pocket for flip-flops. The shell is made of canvas fabric with a water-repellent coating, and the bag has a waterproof zippered section for electronics. A detachable lining makes the bag easier to clean. Co-founded by Aditi Agarwal and Akshay Jain, Dezzio has raised more than $45,000 with a Kickstarter campaign, surpassing its $20,000 goal. While the campaign runs, through May 20, the bags are available in various sizes and options starting at $69.

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Northbrook company Power Plate recently introduced a home version of the “whole-body vibration” fitness equipment it has been supplying to professional sports teams and health clubs for more than a decade. The Personal Power Plate, which costs $1,995 at the company's website, weighs 40 pounds and can slide under a bed for storage. The Power Plate has a platform that vibrates at 25 to 50 times a second, triggering muscle contractions throughout the body. According to a news release, the benefits include increased muscle strength and overall flexibility, increased bone density and increased blood flow.

More new businesses we've spotted: Starbucks opened a new sort of Starbucks last week in Chicago's Union Station — an “express” store, with a shorter menu and a quicker system for buying drinks, aimed at commuters in a hurry. This is the company's fifth express store, following others in New York and Toronto, Design Retail reported. … Versace has opened a two-story store at 933 N. Rush St. … Bitter Pops, a beer shop with a tasting room owned by Michael Jorndt, opened this month at 3345 N. Lincoln Ave. in Lakeview. … Grassroots California, a West Coast store selling hats and apparel inspired by “Cali's cannabis culture,” opened the Grassroots Chicago store April 20 at 515 N. Halsted in the West Loop. … Saved by the Max, a pop-up restaurant with a theme inspired by the “Saved by the Bell” TV series, is coming this summer to 1941 W. North Ave. in Wicker Park, running for one month starting June 1. The diner is taking reservations online now. … Melissa's Palacinke Crepes, Chicago's first licensed food cart, run by South Loop resident Danka Marinkovic, has hit the streets, selling crepes, salads and pasta bowls, DNAinfo reported. … The men's apparel company Bonobos has opened its second Chicago Guideshop in the 900 N. Michigan Avenue shopping mall; The other local Bonobos shop is at 845 W. Armitage.